In August 2022 the Department for Education announced that it will invest £2.6 million in West Yorkshire’s colleges through the Strategic Development Fund.

As well as allowing educators to increase their specialist electric vehicle and retrofit equipment to deliver training, the funding will help to grow and embed green and sustainable knowledge within the curriculum.

The funding will enable internal training and development in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within eight West Yorkshire Colleges. They will work collaboratively to embed Global Goals set out by world leaders within their college, both from a business perspective and within the curriculum.

The following colleges are part of this project, and this is some of what they have been achieving (updated Nov24 as shared at the SDG Champions meeting):

Bradford College

Bradford College’s Green Skills Centre: This new facility includes training bays for installation and maintenance of solar PV, battery storage, and electric vehicle charging points; these were purchased through LSIF. Here, learners will be able to access practical training and this experience will equip learners with the skills needed for careers in the growing green energy sector; enhancing their employability and supporting the transition to a more sustainable economy.

Responsible Futures: Staff and learners will be working with SOS-UK over the next two years to embed sustainability across all aspects of learning and college life. Responsible Futures aims to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to address global challenges like climate change and social justice.

Coming up: Connection to the Bradford Energy Network in 2026: The Bradford Energy Network is expected to reduce Bradford College’s carbon emissions from heating by 85% once we’re connected in 2026. Work is currently underway around the centre to install the infrastructure for this city wide project, which is expected to contribute to an overall decrease in emissions of approximately 8,000 tonnes of CO2e across Bradford.

Calderdale College

Calderdale College staff now have one day of volunteering per year - increasing social action and reach of the college.

Installation of Solar Panels - reduced heating by almost a third, since it was installed.

Wakefield College, part of Heart of Yorkshire Colleges Group

The group is working with HI Group looking into energy saving measures and soon they will be implementing these. Plans are PV at Selby and more PV at Wakefield, Battery Storage at Wakefield and maybe some heat sensors on pipes so we can see where and how our temperatures are flowing around the colleges where they have been identified as missing on the BMS. This is to use funding we have received already that needs spending early 2025.

Coming up: Working on the FE Climate Action Roadmap so will be attending the meeting for FE colleges organised by the EAUC with a view to creating our Climate Action Plan. Also will be updating the Sustainability Leadership Score that we haven’t used for a couple of years – this will be also after the same meeting with the EAUC / FE Colleges.

Kirklees College

Sustainability group established within the college including student representation.

Investment in solar panels, with cost savings already realised.

Marketing team raising awareness within the college campuses.

Leeds College of Building

Staff sustainability survey sent to staff to see where the college is in regards to SDG/sustainability knowledge - mapping SDG influence across the college and creating actions on the SDGs where there can be more influence.

Internal sustainability group is undergoing restoration work.

Leeds City and Keighley Colleges, part of Luminate Education Group

Recording of SDG log and tracker by Sustainability team - staff to fill in SDG form, which will help map the curriculum.

Decarbonisation of Leeds Conservatoire Building as part the the SALIX grant

Coming up: Office furniture upcycling scheme to be completed - currently in the proposal stage.

Shipley College

Environment and Climate Change Committee - House of Lords Sustainability project

Schools and colleges across the UK can apply to be part of the ECCC Youth Engagement Project.

Shipley College applied in summer 2024 and were successful in being selected for the programme, along with five other schools/colleges. The programme includes an on site college tour and discussions on sustainability in the classroom and curriculum. Students are then able to ask questions to a House of Lord member of the ECCC. Future student trip to London to the House of Lords.

Biodiversity: One of the main actions for Shipley college this year is to increase the biodiversity of our Estate, which include;

• Students are working on the Silver Award of the Hedgehog Friendly Campus, where they complete activities to promote native wildlife in the community and across the college estate (main focus on hedgehogs). More information here.

• We are also working towards our Bronze Award for the Bumblebee Friendly Schools Project - Foundation Learning students will complete various projects across the year to promote the importance of bumblebees. More information here.

• Our grounds team is also completing a pollinator plant audit, with the target of increasing the % of pollinator friendly plants across our campus.

• Shipley College is working with Askham Bryan College on the Wildlife pathway at the Mill Building.

Coming up: Three student groups will run sustainability projects throughout 2024/25 (NW to choose winning three projects in PSHE). The winning projects will be funded internally and will start in January 2025. The three groups will then present their projects and implementation to the internal Shipley College Sustainability Group (SCSG).

Askham Bryan College

Askham Bryan College has led on the planning and implementation of a “Wildlife Pathway” at the Mill Building at Shipley College. ACL has been working closely with NW, from Shipley College to collaborate on the project. Shipley College and ABC college students will be working together on different aspects of the “Wildlife Pathway”.

Current collaboration with the Yorkshire Peat Partnerships - students are working with the YP Partnerships and are able to gain hands-on, practical experience at Denton Moor.

Coming up: Student mentoring to go to local primary schools to teach biodiversity and sustainability sessions. ACL will link up with the Climate Ambassadors Programme.

This short film highlights some of the benefits the colleges have identified from working collaboratively on the project:

The examples above are just a small sample of the actions being carried out in the region which will have an impact on thousands of students and staff and create new ways of learning and working to achieve the goals in West Yorkshire.

The United Nations provide a number of resources that can be used to help embed SDGs across the world. These resources and logos are available on the Global Goals website and must be used within the United Nations brand guidelines. All can be found here